Outstanding experts in the use of microorganisms as cell factories describe in step-by-step detail their best laboratory procedures for a wide range of processes and products mediated by microorganisms. The diverse chemicals and biochemicals produced can be used in human health, nutrition, and environmental protection, and include semisynthetic derivatives of cephalosporins, erythromycin, antitumor compounds, plasmids for gene therapy and DNA vaccination , L-lysine, Vitamins B2 and B12, the sweet-tasting protein thaumatin, the carotenoids ss-carotene and astaxanthin, the polysaccharide gellan, and bacteria-producing bacteria for sausage fermentation, and many more. Also illustrated are the uses of phenylacetyl-CoA catabolon for the enzymatic synthesis of penicillins, aromatic biotransformation, syntheses of novel bioplastics, biosensor design, and the synthesis of drug vehicles. This book offers laboratory and industrial scientists a wealth of readily reproducible techniques for the microbial generation of biochemical products serving human health, nutrition, and environmental protection.